Buhler, KS to Overland Park, KS is 201.2 miles and takes about 3h 51m via I 35 and US 50, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Great Plains region, mostly on major highways. It’s a straightforward trip connecting two points in Kansas, suitable for a single day of travel. You'll find it to be a practical route for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.6 miles from Buhler, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97.2 mi
1h 40m
Limestone Road
35.9 mi
41m
US 50
24.7 mi
29m
KS 150
16.7 mi
19m
KS 61
13.6 mi
14m
8th Avenue
3 mi
4m
North Buhler Road
2.7 mi
6m
I 135
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical
· worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buhler, KS and Overland Park, KS.
1
Start on Old Mill Lane
148 ft·12 sec·Old Mill Lane
2
Turn left onto East 1st Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East 1st Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Buhler Road
2.7 mi·6 min·North Buhler Road
4
Continue on 8th Avenue
3.0 mi·4 min·8th Avenue
5
Turn left onto Buckskin Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Buckskin Road
6
Turn right onto KS 61
14 mi·14 min·KS 61
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 135; US 81
1.7 mi·1 min·I 135; US 81
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 56, McPherson, Marion
10
Turn right onto US 56
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Kansas Avenue
11
Continue on US 56
36 mi·41 min·Limestone Road
12
Enter roundabout onto KS 150
186 ft·3 sec·KS 150
13
Continue on KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
14
Turn left onto US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
15
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
16
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
17
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
18
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
19
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
2.6 mi·2 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 225Toward 75th Street, 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 225AToward 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto West 87th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West 87th Street
24
Continue on Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Fe Drive
25
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft·29 sec·Newton Street
26
Turn left onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Valley View Drive
27
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft·15 sec·Overland Park Drive
28
Turn right onto West 81st Street
232 ft·11 sec·West 81st Street
29
Turn right
134 ft·9 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour, 51-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential afternoon traffic near Overland Park. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $31, you have flexibility in your pacing. The longest stretch without a major change is 97.2 miles on I 35, so plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of that long interstate segment.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.6 miles from Buhler, KS, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Overland Park, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buhler, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buhler, KS
This is one driving day of about 201.2 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Buhler, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 97.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.5 and 198 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
22.5 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward US 56, McPherson, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 56, McPherson, Marion
6
100.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
6
100.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Enter roundabout toward I 35 North: Kansas City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
8
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 225
Toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
9
198 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 87th Street Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 225A
Toward 87th Street Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.71 one way
$59.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.80
$65.60
premium
$4.72
$37.36
$74.71
diesel
$4.80
$37.99
$75.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
EV Truck/SUV
80.5
1
$28.17
$12.88
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Buhler, KS
Morning
in Buhler on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 6 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:57PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Destination
Overland Park, KS
Morning
in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:57PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 76% of it on major roads. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 97.2 miles on I 35, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur on Limestone Road and US 50. Expect frequent exits on the interstate portion.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Limestone Road. You will hit about 23 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 201.2 miles you will encounter 23 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,544 ft945 ft
Total Climb
361 ft
Total Descent
759 ft
Highest Point
1,544 ft
~28.7 mi in
Elevation Range
599 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buhler, KS and Overland Park, KS, road signs point toward Mcpherson, Marion, Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
Overland Park is a city in northeastern Kansas within the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is a melting-pot of both urban and suburban living. With 197,000 residents (2020), it is one of the most affluent cities in the U.S.
Top landmarks
•Campbell Dome House — house in Overland Park, Kansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 201.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Overland Park, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Overland Park, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
